U.S. patent number 9,268,847 [Application Number 14/575,620] was granted by the patent office on 2016-02-23 for information processing device, information processing method, and program for the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Susumu Morita, Toshihiro Morita, Yasuhiro Shirai, Taku Sugawara.
United States Patent |
9,268,847 |
Shirai , et al. |
February 23, 2016 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and
program for the same
Abstract
An information processing device includes: a storage unit; a
first display control unit; and a demanding unit. The storage unit
that stores attribute data representing specified attribute of
contents and category data representing a category of the attribute
correlated to each other. The first display control unit that
provides controls for displaying information for a selected
attribute and for displaying, in a categorized state, information
for related attributes correlated to the same category as that of
the attribute on a correlation display screen. The demanding unit
that demands data search by referring to the correlated attribute
selected corresponding to information selected from among those
displayed on the correlation display screen to an information
provision device.
Inventors: |
Shirai; Yasuhiro (Kanagawa,
JP), Morita; Toshihiro (Kanagawa, JP),
Morita; Susumu (Saitama, JP), Sugawara; Taku
(Tokyo, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SONY CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
39102570 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/575,620 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20150106716 A1 |
Apr 16, 2015 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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14168909 |
Jan 30, 2014 |
8954855 |
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11777614 |
Jul 13, 2007 |
8683335 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 21, 2006 [JP] |
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2006-223893 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
16/639 (20190101); G06F 3/0484 (20130101); G06Q
30/06 (20130101); G06F 16/285 (20190101); G06F
3/0482 (20130101); G06F 3/04817 (20130101); G06F
16/23 (20190101); G06F 16/61 (20190101); G06F
16/9535 (20190101); G06F 16/287 (20190101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
17/30 (20060101); G06F 3/0481 (20130101); G06F
3/0484 (20130101); G06Q 30/06 (20120101) |
Field of
Search: |
;715/764 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"Walkman Series A", May 17, 2006,
http://www.walkman.sony.co.jp/artistlink-info/wm.html. cited by
applicant .
Office Action issued Jun. 2, 2011, in Japanese Patent Application
No. 2006-223893 (with English-language translation). cited by
applicant .
"SonicStage CP" of "SonicStage", Press Release
http://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/200605/06-0509/, May 9,
2006, pp. 1-4. cited by applicant .
Ken Fujimoto, "Trial of new software for Walkman "SonicStage CP",
Fusion of a function of CONNECT Player with the stability of
SonicStage", AV Watch,
http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060529/dal237.htm, No. 237,
May 29, 2006, pp. 1-6. cited by applicant .
"SonicStage CP was tried, Do what to do!",
http://t-tama.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2006/06/sonicstage.sub.--cp.sub.--8d-
ba.html, Jun. 3, 2006, pp. 1-5. cited by applicant .
"Artist link function of SonicStage CP", C-TEC BACKROOM 2,
http://ctec2.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2006-05-29-2, May 29, 2006, pp.
1-11. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Leggett; Andrea
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, McClelland, Maier &
Neustadt, L.L.P.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of
priority from allowed U.S. application Ser. No. 14/168,909, filed
Jan. 30, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
11/777,614, filed Jul. 13, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,683,335,
issued Mar. 25, 2014, which claims the benefit of priority from
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-223893, filed Aug. 21, 2006,
the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An information processing device, comprising: processing
circuitry; and a memory that stores information including artist
identifiers for each of a plurality of audio contents and
categories each representing a grouping of artist identifiers,
wherein the artist identifiers and the categories are correlated to
each other, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to
provide display information to display an artist identifier, an
album of the artist identifier, ranking of audio contents of the
artist identifier, information regarding the artist identifier,
another related artist identifier, a music site icon representing a
URL for each artist identifier, and a community button to
communicate with users, the display information displaying an
indicator indicating a correlation between the artist identifier
and the another related artist identifier.
2. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the
display information enables a user to add an artist identifier to a
category, and the processing circuitry is configured to update the
stored information based on addition of the artist identifier.
3. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the
display information enables a user to delete an artist identifier
from a category, and the processing circuitry is configured to
update the stored information based on deletion of the artist
identifier.
4. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the
display information enables a user to create a new category
representing a user generated grouping of artist identifiers, and
the processing circuitry is configured to update the stored
information to include a correlation between the new category and
the user generated grouping of artist identifiers.
5. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the
display information enables a user to delete a category
representing the grouping of artist identifiers, and the processing
circuitry is configured to update the stored information to remove
the deleted category.
6. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the
display information enables a user to access a detail page for one
of the album of the artist identifier, the ranking of audio
contents of the artist identifier, and the information regarding
the artist identifier, in response to selection of text
representing the one of the album of the artist identifier, the
ranking of audio contents of the artist identifier, and the
information regarding the artist identifier.
7. A method comprising: storing, at a memory, information including
artist identifiers for each of a plurality of audio contents and
categories each representing a grouping of artist identifiers,
wherein the artist identifiers and the categories are correlated to
each other; and generating, by processing circuitry, display
information to display an artist identifier, an album of the artist
identifier, ranking of audio contents of the artist identifier,
information regarding the artist identifier, another related artist
identifier, a music site icon representing a URL for each artist
identifier, and a community button to communicate with users, the
display information displaying an indicator indicating a
correlation between the artist identifier and the another related
artist identifier.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the display information enables a
user to add an artist identifier to a category; and updating, by
the processing circuitry, the stored information based on addition
of the artist identifier.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the display information enables a
user to delete an artist identifier from a category; and updating,
by the processing circuitry, the stored information based on
deletion of the artist identifier.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the display information enables
a user to create a new category representing a user generated
grouping of artist identifiers; and updating, by the processing
circuitry, the stored information to include a correlation between
the new category of data and the user generated grouping of artist
identifiers.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the display information enables
a user to delete a category representing the grouping of artists;
and updating, by the processing circuitry, the stored information
to remove the deleted category.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the display information enables
a user to access a detail page for one of the album of the artist
identifier, the ranking of audio contents of the artist identifier,
and the information regarding the artist identifier, in response to
selection of text representing the one of the album of the artist
identifier, the ranking of audio contents of the artist identifier,
and the information regarding the artist identifier.
13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with
instructions, which when executed by a processing device cause the
processing device to implement a method comprising: storing, at a
memory, information including artist identifiers for each of a
plurality of audio contents and categories each representing a
grouping of artist identifiers, wherein the artist identifiers and
the categories are correlated to each other; and generating, by
processing circuitry, display information to display an artist
identifier, an album of the artist identifier, ranking of audio
contents of the artist identifier, information regarding the artist
identifier, another related artist identifier, a music site icon
representing a URL for each artist identifier, and a community
button to communicate with users, the display information
displaying an indicator indicating a correlation between the artist
identifier and the another related artist identifier.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing device,
an information processing method, and a program for the same, and
more specifically to a method and a device making it possible to
easily retrieve information for a desired artist from a
contents-providing server on a display screen for displaying
correlation between artists appearing in contents as well as to a
program for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there has been becoming more and more popularized a
method for acquiring music data into a personal computer (PC) by
ripping music pieces recorded in a CD (Compact Disc) or downloading
desired music pieces from a music distribution server by making use
of a music distribution service or the like, and people enjoy
contents such as the acquired music data with a PC or a portable
device (PD).
Recently, a PC or a PD is equipped with a storage unit capable of
storing a large amount of data therein, and a user can have various
and diversified contents recorded in a PC. When the contents
recorded in a PC or in a PD includes those not preferred by a user,
however, it is troublesome for the user to retrieve contents just
fitting to the user's mood from the various and diversified
contents.
To overcome the problem, the present applicant has introduced into
the market a product enabling easy search of contents fetched into
a PC or a PD by a user. As described, for instance, in Non-patent
Document 1, "Detailed information for "Walkman Series A",
"Artistlink"", by making use of the product, a user can acquire
artist link information relating to the fetched music data (namely
information for a classification representing an attribute of
artists included in the contents via a network. Then the user can
have a screen representing relation between the artists displayed
on a monitor, and select contents to be listened to next time
according to the user's preference.
This artist link information can be acquired from a user's friend
or a server providing the information. When a user acquired the
artist link information, for instance, from the user's friend and
then tries to has a screen representing relations between the
artists, sometimes there occurs the case in which information for
an artist not relating to the contents stored in the user's PC or
PD is displayed. With the additional information, the user can know
presence of and relations between the artist(s) not relating to the
contents stored in the user's PC or PD.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the related art, however, even when a user acquires the artist
link information, for instance, from the user's friend, sees a
screen showing relations between artists, and know presence of and
relations between the artists not relating to the contents stored
in the user's PC or PD, if the users wants to acquire contents
relating to any of the artists, the user is demanded to search for
contents relating to the desired artist by intentionally accessing
a music piece distribution server or the like.
In other words, even when artist information not relating to the
contents stored in a user's PC or PD is displayed on a screen
showing relations between artists, the user may not directly access
a music piece transmission server for retrieving information for
the artist not relating to contents stored in the user's PC or
PD.
The present invention was made in the light of the circumstances as
described above, and there is a need for the present invention to
provide a device and a method enabling a user to retrieve
information for an artist not relating to contents owned by the
user from a contents providing server on a display screen for
displaying relations between artists appearing in contents.
An information processing device in an embodiment of the present
invention includes: a storage unit, a first display control unit,
and a demanding unit. The storage unit that stores attribute data
representing specified attribute of contents and category data
representing a category of the attribute correlated to each other.
The first display control unit that provides controls for
displaying information for a selected attribute and for displaying,
in a categorized state, information for related attributes
correlated to the same category as that of the attribute on a
correlation display screen. The demanding unit that demands data
search by referring to the correlated attribute selected
corresponding to information selected from among those displayed on
the correlation display screen to an information provision
device.
The information processing device in the embodiment of the present
invention further includes a second display control unit that
controls displays on a search result screen according to a result
of search sent from the information provision device in response to
a request from the demanding unit.
The information processing device in the embodiment of the present
invention, the demanding unit demands data search by referring to
the attribute corresponding to information selected from among
those displayed on the correlation display screen to information
providing device.
The information processing device in the embodiment of the present
invention, further includes a contents storage unit that stores
contents, contents of the related attribute is stored in the
contents storage unit.
The information processing device in the embodiment of the present
invention, further includes a contents storage unit that stores
contents, contents of the related attribute is not stored in the
contents storage unit.
There is a need for the present invention to provide a method of
processing information with an information processing device having
a storage unit that stores attribute data representing a specified
attribute of contents and category data representing a category of
the attribute correlated to each other, the method includes the
steps of: providing and demanding. The providing step controls for
displaying information for a selected attribute and for displaying,
in a categorized state, information for related attributes
correlated to the same category as that of the attribute on a
correlation display screen. The demanding step demands data search
by referring to the attribute corresponding to information selected
from among those displayed on the correlation display screen.
There is a need for the present invention to provide a program for
making an information processing device including a storage unit
that stores attribute data representing specified attribute of
contents and category data representing a category of the attribute
correlated to each other execute the step of: providing and
demanding. The providing step controls for displaying information
for a selected attribute and also for displaying, in a categorized
state, information for related attributes correlated to the same
category as that of the attribute on a correlation display screen.
The demanding step demands data search by referring to the
attribute corresponding to information selected from among those
displayed on the correlation display screen.
In an embodiment of the present invention, data search for an
artist not relating to the contents which a user does not own can
be performed on a display screen on which relations between artists
relating to attributes of the contents are displayed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a
contents provision system according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware
configuration of a PC shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional
configuration of the PC shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of an
ALM database shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of an
artist link correspondence table shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a
contents information database shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a processing
performed in the contents provision system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating another example of a processing
performed in the contents provision system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of an
artist link map editing screen;
FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a processing for editing
artist link information;
FIG. 11 is another flow chart illustrating a processing for editing
artist link information;
FIG. 12 is a further flow chart flow chart illustrating a
processing for editing artist link information;
FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a processing directly
performed by the PC1 shown in FIG. 1 for searching contents from a
content server;
FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an example of a search URL;
FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an example of a result of data
search sent from a server;
FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an example of a display address URL
decided according to a result of data search;
FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a
search result screen;
FIG. 18 is a view illustrating another example of a configuration
of the search result screen; and
FIG. 19 is a view illustrating still another example of a
configuration of the search result screen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention are described below, and the
correspondence between the requirements in the present invention
and embodiments described in the specification of in relation to
the drawings is, for instance, as described below. The following
descriptions are provided for insuring that embodiments supporting
the present invention are described or illustrated in the
specification or the drawings. Therefore, even if there are
embodiments described in the specification or illustrated in the
drawings but not described as those corresponding to the
requirements in the present invention, it should not be understood
that the embodiments do not corresponds to the requirements in the
present invention. On the contrary, even if there is am embodiment
described as that corresponding to any specific requirement in the
present invention, it does not mean that the embodiment dos not
correspond to another embodiment other than that specific
embodiment.
An information processing device in one embodiment of the present
invention (e.g, a PC1 shown in FIG. 1) includes a storage unit, a
first display control unit, and a demanding unit. The storage unit
(e.g, an artist correspondence table 83 shown in FIG. 4) stores
attribute data (e.g, an artist ID) representing a specific
attribute of contents (e.g, a name of an artist) and category data
(e.g, an artist group ID) representing a category of the attribute
(e.g, an artist group name) in the correlated state. The first
display control unit (e.g, an artist link display processing
section 51 shown in FIG. 3) provides controls for displaying
information for selected attribute (e.g, a base point icon 251
shown in FIG. 9) and categories correlated to the attribute (e.g,
folder icon 252-1 shown in FIG. 9) and also displaying information
for correlated attributes correlated to the category for the
attribute described above (e.g, correlation icons 253-1 and 253-2
shown in FIG. 9) in the categorized state on a correlation display
screen (e.g, an artist link tree screen 213 shown in FIG. 9). The
demanding unit (e.g, an artist search control section 55 shown in
FIG. 3) that demands data search by using the correlated attributed
for selected information displayed on the correlation display
screen to an information providing equipment (e.g, a contents
server 3 shown in FIG. 1).
The information processing device can furthermore include a second
display control unit (e.g, a basic display processing section 56
shown in FIG. 3) that controls displays on a search result screen
(e.g, a search result screen 301 shown in FIG. 17) corresponding to
a result of search sent from the information providing
equipment.
The information processing device can furthermore include a
contents storage unit that stores contents therein (e.g, a contents
file storing section 73). In this configuration, contents for the
correlated attributes may be stored in the contents storage
unit.
The information processing device can furthermore include a
contents storage unit (e.g, the contents file storing section 73
shown in FIG. 3) that stored contents therein. In this
configuration, contents for the correlated attributes may be
demanded to be stored in the contents storage unit.
A method and a program for processing information in one embodiment
of the present invention are used in the information processing
device having a storage unit that stores therein attribute data
representing specified attribute of contents and category data
representing a category of the attribute correlated to each other
in the categorized state. The method includes the step of providing
controls for displaying information for a selected attribute and
information for categories correlated to the attribute and also for
displaying information for the attributed correlated to the same
category of the attribute in the categorized state on the
correlation display screen (e.g., a step S104 shown in FIG. 10) and
demanding, to the information processing device, data search by
using the selected correlation attribute for which the information
displayed on the correlation display screen is selected (e.g., a
step S203 shown in FIG. 13).
Embodiments of the present invention are described below with
reference to the related drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of a contents
providing system according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
Personal computers 1-1 and 1-2 are connected to a network 2
represented by Internet. In the following description, when any
specific definition is not necessary, the personal computers 1-1
and 1-2 are simply referred to as PC1. Although two units of PC1
are shown in this embodiment, any number of PCs can be connected to
the network 2.
Connected to the network 2 are a contents server 3 for providing
contents such as moving images or music pieces to the PC1 and a
detailed meta server 5. Any numbers of the contents servers 3 and
the detailed meta servers 5 may be attached to the network 2. In
the example shown in FIG. 1, a case in which contents for music
pieces is provided will be described.
The contents server 3 has a contents database (DB) 4 with contents
data for music pieces or the like (sometimes referred to as
contents data in the following description) and metadata
corresponding to the contents stored therein. The metadata includes
a plurality of attributes such as, for instance, a name of an album
in which the contents is included, a name of an artist playing or
providing the contents, a genre (category) of the contents, a music
tone, rhythm, a ranking value (parameter) for the contents in the
market.
When the contents server 3 receives a demand for data search from
the PC1, the contents server 3 performs data search for the data in
the database 4, and sends a result of data search to the PC1. When
the contents server 3 receives a demand for display from the PC1,
the contents server 3 sends the demanded image data to the PC1. In
addition, the contents server 3 performs authentication of a user
registered for provision of contents in response an access from the
PC1 for demanding contents. The contents server 3 retrieves content
data and metadata for the contents demanded by the user from among
various and diversified contents stored in the contents database 4,
and sends the contents data and metadata to the PC1 with
authenticated user via the network 2. A contents provider may
provide contents data for various and diversified contents
recommended to the user.
The detailed metadata server 5 has a contents details metadata
database (DB) 6 in which detailed metadata for various and
diversified contents transacted in the market is stored. The
detailed metadata includes a contents ID (Identifier) which is an
identifier for contents, metadata appended to contents data (e.g.,
an artist name or a genre), category data representing categories
for classification of similar contents (e.g., subgenre).
The subgenre is information for one or more genres other than the
genres in the metadata for contents A, yet presumably most
proximate (similar) to the genre of the contents A. Contents in the
metadata can be classified to a plurality of subgenres similar to a
genre P. In other words, contents is classified to only one genre
in the metadata, but may be classified to a plurality of subgenres
in the metadata. More specifically, each contents classified as
subgenre may be similar to each other. For instance, the detailed
metadata includes, for instance, a contents ID for contents, an
artist name appearing in the contents, and names of subgenres to
which similar contents is classified.
The detailed metadata server 5 sends, of the detailed metadata
stored in the detailed metadata database, detailed metadata for a
contents ID for the contents acquired in the PC1 via the network
2.
The PC1 accesses the contents server 3 using client software such
as a Web browser, and records contents data or metadata received
from the contents server 3, or encodes the contents data received
from a CD (Compact Disc) according to a predefined scheme (e.g.,
ATRAC3plus (trademark)), and records the encoded data together with
the metadata. The metadata is acquired from a CD or other metadata
server not shown.
Then the PC1 generates artist link information relating to artists
appearing in the contents based on received detailed metadata,
records the generated artist link information, and displays artist
link information specified by a user. The PC1 edits the recorded
and displayed artist link information according to the user's
operations, selects a desired artist for data search from the
contents server 3, or generates a play list in which an order of
reproduced contents is described, and reproduces the recorded
contents data by making use of the information described above.
The PC1-1 and 1-2 are detachably connected to portable devices (PD)
7-1 and 7-2, which are portable recording/reproducing device and
mounted via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like to the
PCs, respectively. When it is not necessary to describes the PD7-1
and 7-2 discretely, the devices are referred to simply as PD7 in
the following description. The PC1 transfers the recorded contents
data, metadata, edited artist link information, the generated play
list or the like to the connected PD7.
The PD7 records various and diversified contents data, metadata
thereof, the contents data, the edited artist link information, the
generated play list, and the like, and reproduces the contents data
by making use of the contents data, metadata, artist link
information, the play list and the like recorded as described
above. Furthermore, when a removable medium 22 with various and
diversified contents files previously recorded therein (refer to
FIG. 2) is connected thereto, the PD7 can reproduce contents data
and the like recorded in the removable medium 22.
The configuration shown in FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which the
PD7 acquires contents files from the contents server 3 via the PC1.
However, other configurations are also allowable in which the PD7
is directly connected to the network 2 or acquires data directly
from the contents server 3 or the detailed metadata server 5, for
instance, by means of wireless communications.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of the
PC1.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 executes various types of
processing according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only
Memory) 12 or loaded from a storage section 18 to a RAM (Random
Access Memory) 13. Also data for execution of the various types of
processing is stored in the RAM 13 according to the necessity.
The CPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13 are connected to each other
via a bus 14. Also connected to the bus 14 is an input/output
interface 15.
Connected to the input/output interface 15 are an operation input
section 16 including a keyboard, a mouse, or the like; a display
section 17 which is a display including a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube),
an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and the like; a speaker 18; a
storage section 19 based on a hard disk or the like; and a
communication section 20 including a modem, a terminal adaptor, a
USB interface, and the like. The communication section 20 executes
the communication process via the network 2 or a USB cable.
A diver 21 may be connected to the input/output interface 15
according to the necessity. Furthermore, a removable medium such as
a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto optical disk, or a
semiconductor memory may be connected to the input/output interface
15 according to the necessity, and a computer program read out from
the removable medium is installed in the storage section 19
according to the necessity.
Although not shown in FIG. 2, also each of the contents server 3,
the detailed metadata server 5, and the PD7 is configured with a
computer having the basically same configuration as that of the PC1
shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, in the following description, the
configuration shown in FIG. 2 is cited also as a configuration of
the contents server 3, the detailed metadata server 5, and the
PD7.
When the CPU 11 executes various types of program, the computer
shown in FIG. 2 functions as any of the PC1, the contents server 3,
the detailed metadata server 5, or the PD7 shown in FIG. 1. In this
case, the programs can previously be recorded in a ROM 12 as a
recording medium incorporated in the computer shown in FIG. 2 or in
the storage section 19. Alternatively, the programs can temporally
or permanently be stored (recorded) in the removable medium 22 such
as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto optical disk, or a
semiconductor memory and can be provided as packaged software.
Furthermore, the program is not only installed in the computer
shown in FIG. 2 from the removable medium 22 as shown described
above, but also may be transferred from a downloaded site via an
artistic satellite for digital satellite broadcasting to the
computer shown in FIG. 2 in the wireless communications, or may be
transferred via the LAN (Local Area Network) and the network 2 to
the computer shown in FIG. 2 for installation in wired
communication.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional
configuration of the PC1. The functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 are
realized when contents of a music piece is registered and a program
is executed for selecting and listening the registered
contents.
The functional blocks shown in FIG. 3 includes an ALM database 71,
a contents information database 72, and a contents file storing
section 73. These 71, 72 and 73 include an artist link display
processing 51, an artist link GUI control section 52, an artist
link processing control section 53, a database access processing
section 54, an artist search control section 55, a basic display
processing section 56, a basic GUI control section 57, a network
communication control section 58, a network communication section
59, a PD (Portable Device) transfer control section 60, a PD
(Portable Device) communication section 61, and the storage section
19.
The artist link display processing 51 generates GUI images
constituting an artist link map editing screen 201 (FIG. 9) used
for editing or referring to the artist link information under
controls by the artist link GUI control section 52 and based on the
artist link information, and displays the artist link map editing
screen 201 or the like configured with the generated images on the
display section 17.
The artist link GUI control section 52 controls the artist link
display processing 51 to generates GUI images for the artist link
map editing screen 201 or the like based on the artist link
information from the artist link processing control section 53 or
to update the artist link map editing screen 201 or the like based
on a feedback from the artist link processing control section 53.
Furthermore the artist link GUI control section 52 makes the artist
link processing control section 53 execute processing for artist
link information by inputting an operation signal corresponding to
a user's operation relating to the artist link map editing screen
201 via the operation input section 16.
The artist link processing control section 53 executes processing
for the artist link information stored in an ALM databse 71 in
response to control by the artist link GUI control section 52 or
data from the database access processing section 54, or the
processing using the artist link information.
When detailed metadata is supplied from the database access
processing section 54, the artist link processing control section
53 generates artist link information based on the detailed
metadata, supplies the generated artist link information to the
database access processing section 54 for registration in the ALM
database 71.
As described above, the detailed metadata includes a contents ID of
contents, names of artists appearing in the contents, names of
subgenres to which similar contents is classified, and the like,
and therefore a correspondence between the artist names in the
contents and the subgenres can be acquired from the detailed
metadata. Then the artist link processing control section 53
determines that the artists classified (belonging) to the same
subgenres are relating to each other, and generates the artist link
information in which an artist group is correlated to the
artists.
In other words, the artist link information is information
correlating artists belonging to the same artist group, and can be
edited according to the necessity. Therefore, when an artist A
belongs is a member of an artist B (group), when the artist A was a
member of the artist B (group), when the artist A has some
connected with an artist C, or when the artist A provides some
music pieces to an artist D, it is determined that the artists A,
B, C, and D have some connections with each other. In this case, a
particular artist group is prepared, and the artists are correlated
to the artist group.
Therefore, the artist link processing control section 53 performs
editorial works such as addition or deletion of the artist link
information managed in the ALM database 71 by the database access
processing section 54 under control by the artist link GUI control
section 52, and also returns the updated artist link information
reflecting a result of the editorial works to the artist link GUI
control section 52.
The artist link processing control section 53 acquires a name of an
artist specified by a user from the artist link information managed
in the ALM database 71 by the database access processing section 54
under control by the artist link GUI control section 52, and
execute data search from the contents server 3 using the acquired
artist name by controlling the artist search control section
55.
The database access processing section 54 executes read/write
operations for the data stored in the ALM database 71, the contents
information database 72, and the contents file storing section 73
according to instructions from the artist link processing control
section 53, the PD (Portable Device) transfer control section 60,
the network communication control section 58, or other related
sections.
The artist search control section 55 generates search demand data
for demanding data search from the contents server 3 by using an
artist name from the artist link processing control section 53, and
has the generated search demand data sent through the network
communication control section 58. Furthermore, the artist search
control section 55 receives a result of data search from the
contents server 3 from the network communication control section
58, decides data specifying a display site in the contents server 3
(such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator as the display site), and
sends data specified the decided site for display to the network
communication control section 58.
The basic display processing section 56 generates GUI images for
basic functions of a particular program, and has a screen including
the generated GUI images or images corresponding to screen data
supplied from the contents server 3 in the display section 17 under
controls by the basic GUI control section 57.
The basic GUI control section 57 genrates GUI images for basic
functions or updates a screen or the like including the GUI images
for the basic functions based on a feedback from the PD transfer
control section 60 and the network communication control section
58. Furthermore, the basic GUI control section 57 inputs and
supplies an operation signal corresponding to a user's operation
for the GUI image for basic function via the operation input
section 16 to the PD transfer control section 60, the network
communication control section 58, or other related sections, or
supplies images corresponding to screen data supplied from the
contents server 3 via the network communication control section 58
on a monitor constituting the output section 17.
The network communication control section 58 controls the network
communication section 59 in response to the operation signal from
the basic GUI control section 57 to access the contents server 3 or
the detailed metadata server 5, or to send search demand data of
data for a display site from the artist search control section 55
to the contents server 3. Furthermore, the network communication
control section 58 supplies screen data supplied from the contents
server 3 to the basic GUI control section 57, supplies a result of
search acquired from the contents server 3 to the artist search
control section 55, or supplied contents data and metadata acquired
from the contents server 3 or the detailed metadata acquired from
the detailed metadata server 5 to the database access processing
section 54.
The PD (Portable Device) transfer control section 60 makes the
database access processing section 54 read out data specified to be
transferred (such as contents data, metadata, edited artist link
information, or a play list in which a sequence of contents
reproduction is described) in response to an operation signal from
the basic GUI control section 57 and send the data to the PD7
controlling the PD communication section 61.
The PD communication section 61 sends data supplied from the PD
transfer control section 60 via the communication section 20 as
well as a USB cable not shown to the PD7. The network communication
section 59 accesses the contents server 3 or the detailed metadata
server 5 via the network communication section 59, the a
communication section 20, and the network 2 and supplies screen
data, a result of search or contents data or metadata and a
detailed metadata acquired from the detailed metadata server 5 to
the network communication control section 58.
Artist link information for various artists is stored in the ALM
database 71. The artist link information stored in the ALM database
71 is generated by the artist link processing control section 53
based on the detailed metadata acquired from the detailed metadata
server 5, and is subjected to editorial works such as addition or
deletion in response to a user's operation.
Information concerning contents (contents information) is stored in
the contents information database 72. The contents information
database 72 stores therein information such as contents names,
contents file names, history data of times of reproduction and
history log data for transfer to a PD in the correlated state. The
contents information registered in the contents information
database 72 is displayed, for instance, as my library data, on the
screen. Also the play list information prepared according to the
user's operation (including a play list name and a contents ID to
which the play list belongs) is also stored in the contents
information database 72. Also a subgenre name for detailed metadata
may be stored as one of metadata in the contents information
database 72 in correspondence to the contents ID.
Contents data is stored, as a contents file managed in the contents
information database 72, in the contents file storing section
73.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration of the ALM
database 71.
In the example shown in FIG. 4, the ALM database 71 includes an
artist group (AG) list table 81, an artist list table 82, and an
artist link correspondence table 83.
The artist group list table 81 includes an artist group ID
(Identification), an artist group name, and attribute
information.
The artist group name is a name representing a category for
classification of artists correlating to each other, and can freely
be changed or newly added by a user. When the artist group name is
prepared based on the detailed metadata, the subgenre name is
registered as it is as the artist group name.
The attribute information represents by whom the artist group is
prepared. For instance, the user A represents that the artist group
name is prepared by a user of the PC1, and system represents that
the artist group is prepared based on detailed metadata by the
artist link processing control section 53. The attribute
information prepared by a user is processed in preference to that
prepared, for instance, by system.
The artist group list table 81 shown in FIG. 4 stores therein the
information that an artist group ID for the artist group "AG1" is
"AGID.sub.--1" and attribute information thereof is "system", the
information that an artist group ID for the artist group "AG2" is
"AGID.sub.--2" and attribute information thereof is "user A", and
the information that an artist group ID for the artist group "AG3"
is "AGID.sub.--3" and attribute information thereof is "user A". In
other words, in the artist group list table 81, artist group IDs
and an artist group names are stored in the correlated state. The
artist group "AG1" is prepared by the artist link processing
control section 53, while the artist groups "AG2" and "AG3" are
prepared by the user of the PC1.
The artist list table 82 includes artist IDs and artist names. In
the artist list table 82 shown in FIG. 4, the artist ID of "AT1" is
correlated to "AID.sub.--1", the artist ID of "AT2" to
"AID.sub.--2", the artist name of "AT3" to the "AID.sub.--3"
respectively. Thus the artist IDs and the artist names are stored
in the correlated state.
The artist link correspondence table 83 includes artist group IDs
and artist IDs. In the artist link correspondence table 83 shown in
FIG. 4, the artist group ID "AGID.sub.--1" includes the artist ID
"IAD.sub.--1", the artist ID "AID.sub.--2", and the artist ID
"AID.sub.--3"; the artist group ID "AGID.sub.--2" includes the
artist ID "AID.sub.--2" and the artist ID "AID.sub.--4". Thus the
artist group IDs and the artist IDs are stored in the correlated
state.
Namely, in the artist link correspondence table 83, one artist
group ID can include a plurality of artist IDs, and also a
plurality of artist groups can include the same artist ID.
As described above, by referring to the artist link information,
including the artist group list table 81, the artist list table 82,
and the artist link correspondence table 83, it is understood that
the artist AT1 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--1", the artist AT2
with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--2", and the artist AT3 with the
artist ID of "AID.sub.--2" are included in the artist group AG1
with the artist group ID of "AGID.sub.--1". Furthermore it is
understood that the artist AT2 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--2"
and the artist AT4 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--4" are included
in the artist group AG2 with the artist group ID of
"AGID.sub.--2".
Namely, the artist link information suggests that the artist AT1
with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--1", artist AT2 with the artist ID
of "AID.sub.--2", and the artist AT3 with the artist ID of
"AID.sub.--3" have some connection with each other, and also that
the artist AT2 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--2" and the artist
AT14 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--4" have some connections with
each other.
It is to be noted that artists with the corresponding contents not
registered in the contents information database 72 are also
included in the artists registered in the ALM database 71. The
configuration is described with reference to FIG. 9, but anyhow the
artist link information can be edited and also additional artist
link information can be acquired from the outside and added to the
artist link information.
FIG. 5 illustrates a more detailed configuration of the artist link
correspondence table 83. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the artist
link correspondence table 83 includes order information and
attribute information in addition to the artist group IDs and
artist IDs shown in FIG. 4.
The order information is an order of priority referred to, for
instance, when the artist link information is transferred to the
PD7 having a small memory capacity as compared to that of the PC1,
or when artists included in an artist group are displayed side by
side in the display section 17, and the order information can be
changed by a user. For instance, the configuration is allowable in
which artist at only upper 20 ranks in the order of priority among
those included in an artist group are transferred to the PD7.
The attribute information included in the artist link
correspondence table 83 indicates by whom an artist is added to an
artist group. AS described above, the user A indicates that the
attribute information is prepared by a user of the PC1, and
"system" indicates that the attribute information is prepared by
the artist link processing control section 53 based on the detailed
metadata. Furthermore the user B indicates that the attribute
information is prepared by a user of another PC1. This attribute
information is referred to as an initial value of the order
information.
Namely, to treat a user's desire more preferentially than detailed
metadata, an initial value of each other information is decided by
the attribute information. More specifically, the attribute
information is treated in the following order of priority: User A
(user of the PC1)>User B (the user's friend)>"system".
The artist link correspondence table 83 shown in FIG. 5 stores
therein artist IDs included in the artist group AG1 with the artist
group ID of "AGID.sub.--1". Namely the order information of "1" and
the attribute information of "user A" are stored in the correlated
state in the artist AT1 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--1".
Furthermore the order information of "2" and the attribute
information of "user B" are stored in the correlated state in the
artist AT2 with the artist AT2 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--2"
included in the artist group AG1 with the artist group ID of
"AGID.sub.--1". In the artist AT3 with the artist ID of
"AID.sub.--3" included in the artist group AG1 with the artist
group ID of "AGID.sub.--1", the order information of "3" and the
attribute information of "system" are stored in the correlated
state.
It is understood that, among the artists included in the artist
group AG1 with the artist group ID of "AGID.sub.--1", a priority of
the artist with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--1" is the highest,
while a priority of the artist AT3 with the artist ID of
"AID.sub.--3" is the lowest. Furthermore, the artist link
information indicating that the artist AT1 is included in the
artist group AG1 is prepared by the user A, the artist link
information indicating that the artist AT2 is included in the
artist group AG1 is prepared by the user B, and the artist link
information indicating that the artist AT3 is included in the
artist group AG1 is prepared by the "system".
The case of the artist group AG1 is described below more
specifically with reference to the attribute information in the
artist group list table 81 shown in FIG. 4. For instance, after the
artist group AG1 and the artist link information indicating that
the artist AT3 is included in the artist group AG1 are prepared by
the artist link processing control section 53, the artist link
information indicating the artist AT1 is included in the artist
group AG1 is added through an editorial work performed by the user
of the PC1. Then the artist link information is fetched a file
including the artist link information for a user of other PC1
(although the mechanism is described in detail below), and when the
information is merged, the artist link information indicating the
artist AT2 is included in the artist group AG1 is added.
Furthermore in the artist link correspondence table 83, the order
information of "2" and the attribute information of "user A" are
stored in the correlated state in the artist AT2 with the artist ID
of "AID.sub.-- 2" included in the artist group AG2 with the artist
group ID of "AGID.sub.--2". The order information of "1" and the
attribute information of "user A" are stored in the correlated
information in the artist AT4 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--4"
included in the artist group AG2 with the artist group ID of "ACID
2".
It is understood that, of the artists included in the artist group
AG2 with the artist group ID of "AGID.sub.--2", a priority of the
artist AT4 with the artist ID of "AID.sub.--4" is set at the
highest order, while the artist AT2 with the artist ID of
"AID.sub.--2" is set at the lowest order. Furthermore, it is
understood that the artist link information indicating that the
artist AT2 is included in the artist group AG2 is prepared by the
user A, and also the artist link information indicated by the
artist AT4 is included in the artist group AG2 is prepared by the
user A.
FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the contents information table
stored in the contents information database 72.
The contents information table includes contents ID each
identifying contents (a music piece), contents names, name of
albums in which the contents is included, name of artists who play
or provide the contents, names of genres to which the contents
belongs, names of contents file of contents respectively, and
attribute information for the contents such as a flag indicating
that the contents has been reproduced. This reproduction-completed
flag is once rest to "0" when the contents is shuffled and then
again reproduced in a random manner, and then "1" is set in the
reproduction-completed flag for the contents selected to be
reproduced. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent
contents once reproduced from being selected for reproduction
again.
For instance, the contents information table shown in FIG. 6 stores
therein the contents information indicating that a contents name of
the contents with the contents ID of "TID.sub.--1" is "Song1", the
album name is "Album1", the artist name is "Artist AT1", the genre
name is "Pops", the contents file name is "Song1.oma", and the
reproduction-completed flat is "0".
The contents information table furthermore stores therein the
contents information indicating that a contents name of the
contents with the contents ID of "TID.sub.--2" is "Song2", the
album name is "Album1", the artist name is "Artist AT1", the genre
name is "Pops", the contents file name is "Song2.oma", and the
reproduction-completed flag is "0". The contents information table
also stores therein the contents information indicating that a
contents name of the contents with the contents ID of "TID.sub.--3"
is "Song3", the album name is "Album2", the artist name is "Artist
AT2", the genre name is "Rock", the contents file name is
"Song3.oma", and the reproduction-completed flag is "0".
Although not shown in FIG. 6, as described above, a tempo, a tune,
and rhythm of contents, chronological data (such as on-sale date),
ranking information, history data of times of reproduction, history
log data for transfer to a PD, and play list name and the like are
also stored in correspondence to the contents ID. The ranking
information includes such data as ranking of sales in the market,
ranking of user access to the contents server 3, and the like.
For instance, when the contents is image contents, a title of a
program, a title of a moving picture, and chronological data such
as a released date) are included in the contents information
database 72. Furthermore, an assessment value for rating the
contents prepared in response to user's operation in the operation
input section 16 can be stored as comments metadata in the contents
information database 72. Preparation of the assessment value may be
performed either before or after the contents is viewed.
Next descriptions are provided, by referring to the flow chart
shown in FIG. 7, for a process performed in the PC1 for acquiring
contents data from the contents server 3, acquiring detailed
metadata from the detailed metadata server 5, and generating artist
link information.
In the following description, it is assumed that a contents list is
displayed in the display section 17. A user demands an access to
the contents server 3 by specifying a desired contents using a
mouse or the like constituting the operation input section 16 of
the PC1.
The basic GUI control section 57 inputs a signal corresponding to a
user's operation via the operation input section 16, and supplies
the signal to the network communication control section 58. In step
S1, the network communication control section 58 controls the
network communication section 59 to access the contents server 3
for demanding a contents desired by the user. The network
communication section 59 accesses the contents server 3 via the
communication section 20 and the network 2 to demand the contents
desired by the user.
When the communication section 20 in the contents server 3 is
accessed by the PC1, the communication section 20 sends, in step
S11, authentication screen data for demanding a user ID
(Identification) and a password previously registered therein via
the network 2 under the controls by the CPU 11 for utilizing the
contents provision system.
The network communication section 59 in the PC1 receives, in step
S2, authentication screen data from the contents server 3 via the
communication section 20 and the network 2, and supplies the
received authentication screen data via the network communication
control section 58 to the basic GUI control section 57. The basic
GUI control section 57 controls and makes the basic display
processing section 56 display the authentication screen
corresponding to the authentication screen data from the network
communication control section 58 on the display section 17. The
user inputs a user ID and a password using a mouse or the like
constituting the operation input section 16 in response to the
authentication screen displayed in the display section 17.
The basic GUI control section 57 inputs the user ID and the
password via the operation input section 16 in response to the
user's operation, and supplies the received user ID and the
password to the network communication control section 58. The
network communication control section 58 controls and makes the
network communication section 59 send the user ID and the password
from the basic GUI control section 57 to the contents server 3. The
network communication section 59 sends the user ID and the pass
word via the communication section 20 and the network 2 to the
contents server 3.
The communication section 20 in the control server 3 receives the
user ID and the password from the PC1, and supplies the received
user ID and the password to the CPU 11. In step S12, the CPU 11
authenticates the user of the PC1 based on the user ID and the
password received from the communication section 20, and then
proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the communication section 20
reads out contents data and metadata for contents desired by the
user from among various and diversified contents stored in the
contents database 4, and sends the contents data and the metadata
read out as described above via the network 2 by controlling the
communication section 20.
The network communication section 59 in the PC1 receives, in step
S4, the contents data and the metadata from the contents server 3
via the communication section 20 and the network 2, supplies the
received contents data and metadata via the network communication
control section 58 to the database access processing section 54 to
stores the contents data and the metadata in the contents file
storing section 73 and in the contents information database 72
respectively. Namely, the database access processing section 54
stores the contents data as a file in the contents file storing
section 73, and also registers the stored contents file name,
metadata, and the like as contents information in the contents
information database 72. Herein, information for the contents
registered in the contents information database 72 is displayed as
my library on the screen.
In step S5, the network communication control section 58 controls
and makes the network communication section 59 access the detailed
metadata server 5 and demand detailed metadata for the contents
acquired from the contents server 3. The network communication
section 59 accesses the detailed metadata server 5 via the
communication section 20 and the network 2, sends a contents ID for
the contents stored in the PC1, and demand detailed metadata for
the contents.
When the communication 20 in the detailed metadata server 5 is
acceded by the PC1, the CPU 11 authenticates the user in step S21.
When using the detailed metadata server 5 for the first time, at
first user registration is demanded. Therefore, when a user of the
PC1 has been registered, the CPU 11 authenticates the user of the
PC1, proceeds to step S33, reads out, of the various and
diversified contents stored in the contents details metadata
database 6, detailed metadata for the contents ID desired by the
user, and controls and makes the communication section 20 send the
read-out detailed metadata via the network 2. When the user has not
been registered, user registration is demanded to the user.
In step S6, the network communication section 59 in the PC1
receives detailed metadata from the detailed metadata server 5 via
the communication section 20 and the network 2, and supplies the
received detailed metadata to the network communication control
section 58. The network communication control section 58 controls
and makes the database access processing section 54 correlate the
detailed metadata to the contents, store the detailed metadata in
the contents information database 72, and also supply the detailed
metadata to the artist link processing control section 53.
In step S7, the artist link processing control section 53 generates
artist link information based on the detailed metadata from the
detailed metadata server 5, and controls and makes the database
access processing section 54 store the generated artist link
information in the ALM database 71.
The detailed metadata includes, for instance, a content ID for
contents, genre information, sub-genre information, artist name,
and the like. The detailed metadata is not limited to information
for genres, and may be information for further classification of
other metadata (such as "Tempo" indicating Bpm of contents, "Major"
indicating whether a tune of the contents is major or miner,
"RythmRatio (ratio of rhythm)" indicating whether rhythm of the
contents is percussive or quiet. Further, other metadata may also
be "HiMid (high frequency area)" indicating whether a diapason of
the contents is high or low, "year" indicating a year when the
contents was released (put into the market), "ranking" indicating a
ranking of accesses by users). The analysis data for the contents
may be used as the detailed metadata. The analysis data means data
obtained by analyzing a tempo of contents, a general tune of
contents (major or miner), rhythm of contents (a use rate of
percussion instruments, and other parameter of each contents.
The artist link processing control section 53 treats the sub-genre
as an artist group, correlates the sub-genre to an artist group ID,
registers the sub-genre in the artist group list table 81, and
registers an artist of contents in the artist lest table 82
correlated with the artist ID. The artist link processing control
section 53 furthermore registers each ID in the artist link
correspondence table 83 so that names of artists included in
contents classified to the sub-genre is included in the artist
group corresponding to the sub-genre.
When the sub-genre has been registered as an artist group, artists
with the contents classified to the sub-genre are added to the
registered artist group.
As described above, in the PC1, artist link information is prepared
based on the detailed metadata acquired from the detailed metadata
server 5, and the prepared artist link information is stored in the
ALM database 71.
The description above assumes a case in which detailed metadata is
acquired when the PC1 acquires contents data, but also the
configuration is allowable in which the contents information
database 72 is searched when the PC1 is activated, or at a
predetermined time interval and the detailed metadata not having
been fetched into the PC1 is acquired.
An example of the processing in the contents provision system
illustrated in FIG. 1 for the transfer of the data from PC1 to PD7
is described by referring to a flow chart in FIG. 8. The PD7
includes, as in the PC1, the artist link display processing section
51 and the database access processing section 54, the ALM database
71 configured in the recording section 19, the contents information
database 72, and the contents file storing section 73, though not
shown.
PD7 is connected to the USB cable (not shown) via the PC1, and the
transfer button for specifying, for example, the data transfer to
the PD7, is displayed on the display section 17 of the PC1. The
user, by using the mouse constituting the operation input section
16 of the PC1, click the transfer button, and selects the contents
to be transferred to the PD7.
The basic GUI control section 57, by the input of the operation
signals corresponding to the user's operation via the operation
input section 16, and provides the signals to the PD communication
section 60. In step s51, the PD communication section 60 controls
the database access processing section 54, and responding to the
operation signals from the basic GUI control section 57, reads out
the data for the contents desired by the user from the ALM database
71, the contents information database 72, and the contents file
storing section 73.
The PD transfer control section 60 controls the database access
processing section 54, and enables the read out of the data for the
contents desired by the user. The database access processing
section 54 refers to the contents information database 72, reads
out the data for the contents desired by the user (metadata, for
example), provides the metadata to the PD transfer control section
60, reads out, through the contents file name included in the
metadata, the contents file stored in the contents file storing
section 73, and provides the data (or the data for the contents) to
the PD transfer control section 60.
When transferring the contents including the play list, the
contents, the transfer of which is completed, of the status is
identified by, for example, confirming the history log data for
transfer to PD in the contents information database 72. Thus, the
completion of the transfer is confirmed. In this case, the data for
the contents are not read out, and the play list is exclusively
transferred.
The PD transfer control section 60, controls the database access
processing section 54, and enables the read out of the artist link
information corresponding to the artist names in the contents
desired by the user read out from the contents information database
72 from the ALM database 71. The database access processing section
54 refers to the artist table 82 and the artist link correspondence
table 83, reads out the artist group ID of the artist name for the
contents desired by the user, reads out the artist group name
corresponding to the artist group ID, then, from the artist group
list table 81, reads out the artist group name corresponding to the
artist group ID, reads out the data for the artist link
information, and provides the data to the PD transfer control
section 60.
In step s52, the PD transfer control section 60 enables the
transfer of the data for the contents read out form the database
access processing section 54 (data for the contents, metadata, and
artist link information) to the PD communication section 61. In the
step, PD transfer control section 60, as described above, based on
the order information in the artist link correspondence table 83,
enables the transfer of the information for the artists having the
priority in the top 20, exclusively. In response to the above, PD
communication section 60 transfers the data for the contents which
the user demands to transfer via the communication section 20 and
the USB cable to the PD7.
In step s61, the communication section 20 in the PD7, via the USB
cable, receives the data for the contents from the PC1, and
provides the data to the database access processing section 54. In
step s62, the database access processing section 54 in the PD7
stores the data for the contents and the metadata in the contents
file storing section 73 and the contents information database 72,
respectively, and stores the artist link information to the ALM
database 71 in the PD7.
The database access processing section 54, stores the contents as
files to the contents file storing section 73, registers the
contents ID, contents file name, metadata, and the like as contents
information to the contents information database 72, and registers
the artist link information from the PC1 to the ALM database
71.
As described above, the artist link information is stored in the
ALM database 71, in the PD7 as well. Therefore, the editing process
and the like in the PC1 as described below are executed in the PD7
as well.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a display screen displayed on the
display section 17.
The display screen shown in FIG. 9 is divided to an area which is
switched to other display screen in response to a user's operation,
and to an area which is not switch and also in which a basic
function display screen 202 is typically displayed. In the example
shown in FIG. 9, an artist link map editing screen 201 is displayed
in the area which can be switched to other display screen. Namely,
the basic function display screen 202 follows controls by the basic
display processing section 56, while the artist link map editing
screen 201 follows controls by the artist link display processing
section 51.
The artist link map editing screen 201 is largely divided to an
artist list screen 211, an artist group list screen 212, and an
artist link tree screen 213. As for the arrangement, the artist
list screen 211 and the artist group list screen 212 are provided
side by side under the artist link tree screen 213.
Provided in an upper portion of the artist link tree screen 213 are
an artist link editing terminate button 214 for returning a screen
display from the artist link map editing screen 201 to a screen for
reproduction (for instance, a screen showing only the artist link
tree screen 213), and a button 215 for returning to a preceding
screen. In addition, provided between the artist link tree screen
213 and the artist list screen 211 or the artist group list screen
212 is a splitter bar 216 moved in the vertical direction for
changing percentages displayed areas of artist link tree screen
213, the artist list screen 211, and the artist group list screen
212.
A result of the task for editing artist link information performed
on the artist list screen 211 as well as on the artist group list
screen 212 is immediately reflected to a display on the artist link
tree screen 213. Furthermore, also an instruction of selection by a
user or a result of the task for editing artist link information is
immediately reflected to the artist group list screen 212.
Each of the screens is described in detail below. A list of the
artist names (AT1 to AT6) stored in the artist list table 82 is
displayed together with the artist icons. The artist icon
correlated to the artist AT5 (sometimes referred to as an icon for
the artist AT5 in the following description) is displayed with a
color different from those of icons for the other artists. The
different color indicates that contents data for the artist AT5 is
not stored in the contents file storing section 73, and that
information for the contents has not been registered in the
contents information database 72. A cursor 221 indicating selection
by a user is displayed above the icon for the artist AT4.
In the lower portion of the artist list screen 211, the button for
adding the artist 222 for adding the new artist to the artist list
table 82, the button for deleting the artist 223 for deleting the
artist selected by the cursor 221 from the artist list table 82,
and the artist link search button 224 for enabling the display of
the artists link information, in which the artist selected by the
cursor 221 is configured as starting artist to the artist link tree
screen 213, are arranged. In the right side portion of the artist
list screen 211, the scroll bar 225 for scrolling the artist list
displayed on the screen 211 is arranged.
Between the artist list screen 211 and the artist group list screen
212, the button for adding the artist group 231 for adding the
artist selected by the cursor 221 in the artist list screen 211 to
the artist group selected in the artist group list screen 212 is
arranged.
In the artist group list screen 212, the list of the artist group
stored in the artist group list table 81 (in the example, the
artist group AG2 and AG3) is displayed with the respective folder
icons. The folder icon respective to the artist group AG2 (referred
as the folder icon for the artist group AG2, hereinafter) is
displayed in a color different from other artist groups. The
display is for representing the fact that the artist included in
the artist group AG2 is configured as the starting artist, and the
artist link information is displayed on the artist link tree screen
213. On the icon for the artist group AG2, the cursor 241 is
displayed, for representing the fact that the group is selected by
the user.
In the artist group list screen 212, the folder icon is displayed
as a closed folder, in the default configuration. By clicking the
closed icon, the opened icon is displayed, the information in the
artist link correspondence table 83 is referred, and the icon for
the artist included in the respective artist group is displayed in
the opened folder icon. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the
folder icons for the artist groups AG2 and AG3 are opened, and the
icons for the artists included in each artist group are displayed
respectively to the order information in the artist link
correspondence table 83.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the icons for the artists
AT2, AT3, and AT5 included in the artist group AG2 are displayed in
the folder for the artist group AG2, and the icons for the artists
AT2, AT4, and AT5 included in the artist group AG3 are displayed in
the folder for the artist group AG3. The artist groups other than
the artist group AG3 are controlled, but there is not enough
displaying space in the example, so the artist groups are not
displayed in the artist group list screen 212, and for example, by
the user's operation of the scroll bar 246 and the like, the group
is displayed on the artist group list screen 212.
In the artist group list screen 212, through the operation of the
mouse composing the operation input section 16 and the like, the
order of the artists included in each artist group can be modified,
enabling the order of the artists on the artist link tree screen
213 to be respectively modified. Thus, the priority of the artists
included in the artist group corresponding to the artist link
correspondence table 83 (or the order information) can also be
modified.
In the lower portion of the artist group list screen 212, the
button for adding the artist group 242 to the artist group list
table 81 as a new artist group is arranged. Furthermore, the button
for deleting the artist group selected by the cursor 241 form the
artist group list table 81 or for deleting the artist selected by
the cursor 241 from the respective artist group, and the fetch
button 244 for including data written out to the XML (Extensible
Markup Language) file, and the write out button 245 for the write
out of the artist link information for at least one artist group
selected by the cursor 241 are arranged. In the right side portion
of the artist group list screen 212, the scroll bar 246 for
scrolling the artist group list displayed on the screen 212 is
arranged.
On the artist link tree screen 213, in response to the user's
operation, the artist link information for the starting artist is
displayed as the tree format.
More specifically, in the artist link tree screen 213, the starting
icon 251 for the representation of the starting artist on the left
side portion, the folder icons 252-1 and 252-2 for the
representation of the artist group including the starting artist on
the center portion, and the co-relational icons 253-1 and 253-2 for
the related other artist included in the focused artist group in
the artist groups including the starting artist on the right side
portion are displayed. Between the starting icon 251 and the folder
icons 252-1 and 252-2, the line for representing the link for
relating the icons is displayed. The line is displayed for
representing the link for relating the folder icon 252-1 and the
co-relational icons 253-1 and 253-2 as well.
The folder icons 252-1 and 252-2 are not distinguished from each
other unless necessary and are referred simply as the folder icon
252, hereinafter. The co-relational icons 253-1 and 253-2 are not
distinguished from each other unless necessary and are referred
simply as co-relational icon 253.
In the artist link tree screen 213, as described above, the artist
group is displayed so that the user can identify the parameter for
the relation of the starting artist and the co-relational artist.
When there is a plurality of the artist groups including the
starting artist, a plurality of folder icons 252 are displayed.
When there is a plurality of the co-relational artist are included
in the artist group, a plurality of the co-relational icons 253 are
displayed.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the artist AT2 is selected as
the starting artist, and thus the character string for the artist
AT2 is included in the starting icon 251, and the character strings
for the artist group AG2 and AG3 including the artist AT2 are
included in the folder icons 252-1 and 252-2, respectively. The
character strings for the other artists AT3 and AT5 included in the
artist group AG2 are included in the co-relational icons 253-1 and
253-2, respectively.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the character string for the
artist AT5 included in the co-relational icon 253-2 is shown in the
parenthesis. The contents for the artist AT5 is not stored in the
contents file storing section 73 (nor in the contents information
database 72), and, as shown in FIG. 9, the character string is in a
gray out display.
In the artist list screen 211, when the artist link search button
224 is clicked through the operation of the mouse constituting the
operation input section 16 and the like, or, in the artist link
tree screen 213, when the co-relational icon 253-1 is clicked, the
artist AT3 represented by the co-relational icon 253-1 is
configured to be the starting artist, and the artist link
information for the starting artist is displayed on the artist tree
screen 213 based on the ALM database 71.
Namely, in the displayed artist link tree 213, characters of the
artist AT3 regarded as a starting artist is displayed with a
starting icon 251, the characters of the artist group AG2 in which
the artist AG3 is included is displayed with a folder icon 352, and
characters of other artists (AT2 and AT5 grayed out in this case)
included focused artist group (artist group AG2 in this case) are
displayed with a correlation icon 253.
On this artist link tree screen 213, when the artist group AG3 is
focused, for instance, in response to a user's operation in the
operation input section 16, on the artist group list screen 212,
scrolling is performed so that a folder icon for the artist group
AG3 is arranged at a top position of the artist group list screen
212, and the icon is displayed with a color different from that of
other artist groups. On the other hand, a folder icon for the
artist group AG2 not on focus is displayed with the same color as
other artist groups.
On the artist link tree screen 213, when the starting icon 251 is
the co-relational icon 253 is selected (for instance, by
double-clicking), for instance, in response to an operation of a
mouse or the like constituting the user's operation input section
16, contents data for the artist indicated by the selected icon is
reproduced. In this step, the artist indicated by the co-relational
icon 253 is regarded as a starting artist, and artist link
information for the artist regarded as a starting artist is
displayed with a tree format based on the ALM database 71.
When the contents for the artist represented by the double-clicked
icon are not stored in the PC1, the artist corresponding to the
icon is configured to be the starting artist, and the artist link
information is displayed as the tree format, based on the ALM
database 71, but the contents is not reproduced.
In the artist link tree screen 213, in the area nearby the icons
for each of the artists, namely, in the left side of the starting
icon 251, and in the right side of the co-relational icons 253-1
and 253-2, the music site icons 261-1, 261-2, and 261-3 including
the alphabetical character "m", corresponding to the starting icon
and the co-relational icon, respectively. Hereinafter, the music
site icons 261-1, 261-2, and 261-3 are not distinguished from each
other unless necessary and are referred simply as music site icons
261.
The details of the music site icons 261 will be described below, in
reference to FIG. 13. When each of the music site icons 261-1,
261-2, and 261-3 is selected, the search request for each artist
corresponding to the respective icon is directly executed for the
contents server 3, and thus, as illustrated in FIG. 9, in the area
in which the artist link map editing screen 201 is displayed, the
search result screen 301 (described in reference to FIG. 17 below)
for displaying the result of the search for the artist in the
contents server 3 using the selected artist name as the search key
is displayed.
The request for searching the artist is directly executed for the
contents server 3, regardless of whether the contents for the
artist corresponding to the selected music site icons 261 is stored
in the contents file storing section 73 or not (namely, stored in
the contents information database 72 or not).
In the upper and lower portion of the folder icon 252 in the artist
link tree screen 213, the scroll buttons 271-1 and 271-2 for
shifting the display to the folder icon representing other artist
groups including the starting artist are arranged, respectively,
and in the upper and lower portion of the co-relational artist icon
253, the scroll buttons 272-1 and 272-2 for shifting the display to
the co-relational icons representing other co-relational artists
are arranged, respectively.
In the artist link tree screen 213, for example, through the
operations of the mouse constituting the operation input section
16, the order of the co-relational icons can be changed, and thus
changing the priority of the artists included in the artist group
corresponding to the artist link correspondence table 83 shown in
FIG. 5 (the order information).
The basic function display screen 202, the display on which enabled
by the basic display processing section 56, is displayed as to
surround the screen such as the artist link map editing screen 201,
the representation by which successively changes responding to the
user's operations, or in the outer area of the screen.
The basic function display screen 202 includes the volume button
281 for adjusting the volume, fetching button 282 for fetching the
contents (or storing through encoding) from the CD and the like,
the transfer button 283 for transferring the contents, play list,
and the like to the PD7, the music site button 284-1 for accessing
the music site (namely, the contents server 3). The basic function
display screen 202 further includes the music community button
284-2 for accessing the external server via the network 2 for
communicating other users using the contents, the reproduce button
285 for specifying to reproduce when the contents is not reproduced
and specifying to pause when the contents is reproducing, the stop
button 286 for specifying to reproduce when the contents is
reproducing. The basic function display screen 202 also includes
the "behind" button 287 for specifying one contents before the
reproducing contents, the "ahead" button 288 for specifying one
contents after the reproducing contents, and an exhibition section
289 for exhibiting the contents name, artist name, images, and the
like in reproducing.
The editing process for the artist link information in the PC1
executed by referring to the artist link map editing screen 201 is
described below, in reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 10
to 12.
When the user operates the operation input section 16, and
specifies the artist link editing by the operation, the artist link
map editing screen 201 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed through the
control of the artist link GUI control section. For example, the
user selects, by operating the operation input section 16, as
represented by the cursor 221, in the artist list screen 211, the
icon for the artist AT4, selects, in the artist group list screen
212, the icon for the artist group AG2 to which the artist AT4 is
added, and then clicks the button 231 for adding the artist
group.
In step s101, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines
whether the addition of the artist to the artist group is
instructed or not. When the operation signal corresponding to the
click of the button 231 is input from the operation input section
16, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines the
instruction for adding the artist to the artist group in step s101,
and proceeds to the step S102.
In step s102, the artist link GUI control section 52 enables the
editing of the artist link correspondence table 83. The artist link
processing control section 53 controls the database access
processing section 54, adds the artist information to the selected
artist group in the artist link correspondence table 83. In the
artist link correspondence table 83, the artist ID for the artist
AT4 is added and registered by co-relating the ID to the artist
group ID for the artist group AG2. The updated information in the
artist link correspondence table 83 is provided to the artist link
GUI control section 52.
In step s103, the artist link GUI control section 52 provides the
updated information in the artist link correspondence table 83 from
the artist link processing control section 53 to the artist link
display processing section 51.
In step s104, the artist link display processing section 51, based
on the updated information in the artist link correspondence table
83, re-draws the artist link map editing screen 201.
Thus, in the artist group list screen 212, the artist icon for
under the artist AG2 is additionally displayed in the folder for
the artist group AT4, and in the artist icons for the artist AT2,
AT3, and AT5.
In the artist link tree screen 213, the display includes the
co-relational icon for the artist AT4 (not shown) added to the
co-relational icons 353-1 and 353-2 to which the character strings
for other artists AT3 and AT5 included in the artist group is
co-related to the folder icon 252-1 to which the artist group AG2
including the artist AT2 or the starting artist is co-related via
the line.
Although in the case described above, the order information in the
artist group is configured to be the lowest, the order can be
configured for the highest and the intermediate.
As described above, the artist link tree screen 213 is immediately
reflected respectively to the editing for the artist link
information executed in the artist list screen 211 and the artist
group list screen 212.
In step s101, when the addition of the artist to the artist group
is not determined to be instructed, the step proceeds to the step
S105.
In step s105, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines
whether the deletion of the artist from the artist group is
instructed or not. In the artist group list screen 212 in the
artist link map editing screen 201 shown in FIG. 9, for example, by
the use's operation of the operation input section 16, so that the
cursor 241 is displayed on the icon for the artist AT4 included in
the artist group AG3 (or the state in which the icon for the artist
AT4 is selected is enabled), the deleting button 243 is
clicked.
When the operation signal corresponding to the click of the
deleting button 243, the artist link GUI control section 52, in
step s105, determines the instruction for the deletion of the
artist from the artist group, and the step is proceeded to the step
S106.
In step s106, the artist link GUI control section 52 controls the
artist link processing control section 53, and enables the editing
of the artist link correspondence table 83. The artist link
processing control section 53 controls the database access
processing section 54, and enables the deletion of the information
for the selected artist from the selected artist group in the
artist link correspondence table 83. In the artist link
correspondence table 83, the information in which the artist ID for
the artist group AG3 is co-related to the artist ID for the artist
AT4 are deleted. The updated information in the artist link
correspondence table 83 is provided to the artist link GUI control
section 52.
In step s107, the artist link GUI control section 52 provides the
updated information in the artist link correspondence table 83 from
the artist link processing control section 53 to the artist link
display processing section 51.
In step s108, the artist link display processing section 51, based
on the updated information in the artist link correspondence table
83, re-draws the artist link map editing screen 201.
Thus, on the display section 17, the artist group list screen 212,
the artist link map editing screen 201 in the artist link tree
screen 213, in which the link of the artist AT4 to the artist group
AG3 is cancelled, are displayed.
In step s101, when the adding of the artist to the artist group is
determined to be instructed, and furthermore, in step s105, the
deletion of the artist from the artist group is determined to be
instructed, the re-drawing of the artist link map editing screen
201 executed in step s104 is executed during the re-drawing of the
artist link map editing screen 201 in step s108.
In step s105, when the deletion of the artist from the artist group
is determined to be not instructed, the step proceeds to the step
S109 shown in the FIG. 11. In step s109, the artist link GUI
control section 52 determines whether the addition of the new
artist group is instructed or not. For example, in the artist group
list screen 212 in the artist link map editing screen 201 shown in
FIG. 9, when the button 242 for adding the artist group is clicked,
under the control by the artist link GUI control section 52, the
display of the artist group, the name of which not configured, is
enabled by the artist group list display processing section
103.
Then, the user inputs the artist group name (for example, AG4)
through keyboard and the like constituting the operation input
section 16. During the process, the user can arbitrarily input the
group name. For example, when the user generates the group for the
artists who recorded music under the same music producers, the user
may input "so and so project" as the artist group name, or when the
user generates the group for the ballet music, the user may input
"ballet" as the artist group name. The user can specify the group
name when generating the new artist group, so that the parameter
for the co-relation among the artists included in the artist group
is identified by the user.
An operation signal corresponding to addition of the new artist
group (artist group AG4) is inputted from the operation input
section 16, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines that
addition of a new artist group is instructed in step S108, and
system operation proceeds to step S110.
In step S110, the artist link GUI control section 52 controls and
makes the artist link processing control section 53 execute an
operation for editing the artist group list table 82. More
specifically, the artist link processing control section 53
controls the database access processing section 54 to add
information for the specified artist group in the artist group list
table 82. In this step, for instance, a name (AG4) for the artist
group AG4 and an artist ID (e.g., AGID.sub.--4) are added in the
artist group list table 82. In the case described above, no artist
has been added in the artist group AG4, an operation for editing
the artist link correspondence table 83 is not performed. Updated
information for the artist group list table 82 is supplied to the
artist link GUI control section 52.
In step S111, the artist link GUI control section 52 supplies the
updated information for the artist group list table 82 from the
artist link processing control section 53 to the artist link
display processing section 51.
In step S112, the artist link display processing section 51
re-draws the artist link map editing screen 201 based on the
updated information for the artist group list table 82.
With the operation, the artist group list screen 212 with icons for
the artist groups AG2 and AG3 shown in FIG. 9 and an icon for the
artist group AG4 newly added therein is displayed in the display
section 17.
In step S109, when it is determined that addition of a new artist
group has not been instructed, the processing proceeds to step
S113. In step S113, the artist link GUI control section 52
determines whether deletion of an artist group has been instructed
or not. For instance, in the artist group list screen 212 in the
artist link map editing screen 201 shown in FIG. 9, a delete button
243 is clicked by a user operating the operation input section 16
in the state in which a cursor 241 is overlaid on an icon for the
artist group AG3 (namely, in the state where an icon for the artist
group AG3 has been selected).
When the delete button 243 is clicked and a corresponding operation
signal is inputted from the operation input section 16, the artist
link GUI control section 52 determines, in step S113, that deletion
of the artist group has been instructed, and processing proceeds to
step S114.
In step S114, the artist link GUI control section 52 controls and
makes the artist link processing control section 53 execute an
operation for editing the artist group list table 82. In other
words, the artist link processing control section 53 controls and
makes the database access processing section 54 execute an
operation for deleting the currently selected artist group from the
artist group list table 82. For instance, in this step, the name
(AG3) of the artist group AG3 and the artist group ID
(AGID.sub.--3) are deleted from the artist group list table 82
shown in FIG. 4.
in step S115, the artist link GUI control section 52 controls and
makes the artist link processing control section 53 execute an
operation for editing the artist link correspondence table 83.
Namely, the artist link processing control section 53 controls and
makes the database access processing section 54 execute an
operation for deleting information for the currently selected
artist group from the artist link correspondence table 83. For
instance, all of information corresponding to the artist group ID
(AGID 3) for the artist group AG3 is deleted from the artist link
correspondence table 83 shown in FIG. 4. Updated information for
the ALM database 71 is supplied to the artist link GUI control
section 52.
In step S116, the artist link GUI control section 52 supplied the
updated information for the ALM database 71 from the artist link
processing control section 53 to the artist link display processing
section 51.
In step S117, the artist link display processing section 51
re-draws the artist link map editing screen 201 based on the
updated information for the ALM database 71.
In response to the operation above, of the icons for the artist
groups AG2 and AG3 shown in FIG. 9, the artist link map editing
screen 201 including the artist group list screen 212 from which
the icon for the artist group AG3 has been deleted and the artist
link tree screen 213 is displayed in the display section 17.
When it is determined in step S109 that addition of a new artist
group has been instructed and also it is determined in step S113
that deletion of an artist group has been instructed, re-draw of
the artist link map editing screen 201 performed in step S112 and
re-draw of the artist link map editing screen 201 in step S117 are
executed simultaneously.
When it is determined in step S113 that deletion of the artist
group has not been instructed, processing proceeds to step S118
shown in FIG. 12. In step S118, the artist link GUI control section
52 determines whether an operation for writing out artist link
information has been instructed or not. For instance, in the artist
group list screen 212 in the artist link map editing screen 201
shown in FIG. 9, in the state in which the cursor 241 is overlaid
on the desired artist groups AG2 and AG3 (for instance, in the
state where icons for the artist groups AG2 and AG3 are on
selection), a user clicks the write out button 245 by operating the
operation input section 16.
When an operation signal is inputted from the operation input
section 16 in response to an operation of clicking the write out
button 245, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines in
step S118 that an operation has been instruction for writing out
the artist link information, and processing proceeds to step
S119.
In step S119, the artist link GUI control section 52 controls and
makes the artist link processing control section 53 execute an
operation for writing out the artist link information for the
artist group currently on selection from the ALM database 71 in a
file. More specifically, the artist link processing control section
53 controls and makes the database access processing section 54
write out artist link information for the artist groups AG2 and AG3
from the ALM database 71, for instance, in the XML file and store
the artist link information in the storage section 19 of the PC1.
It is to be noted that the file format is not limited to the XML
file.
As described above, the artist link information is written out as
an XML file, and therefore the written-out artist link information
can be transferred to another PC1. The artist link information can
be fetched at the other PC1 and can be used as described below.
In step S118, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines
that no operation for fetching artist link information has been
instructed, the processing proceeds to step S120.
In step S120, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines
whether an operation for fetching artist link information has been
instructed. For instance, in the artist group list screen 212 of
the artist link map editing screen 201 shown in FIG. 9, a user
clicks the fetch button 244 by operating the operation input
section 16.
In response to the clicking operation, a window (a slave screen) is
displayed for promoting selection of a file is displayed on the
artist link display processing section 51. Then the user selects an
XML file to be fetched with a mouse or the like constituting the
operation input section 16.
When an operation signal corresponding to a selected XML file is
inputted, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines in step
S120 that an operation for fetching a file has been instructed, and
processing proceeds to step S121.
In step S121, the artist link GUI control section 52 controls the
artist link processing control section 53, and executes an
operation for updating the ALM database 71 in the selected XML
file. Namely, the artist link GUI control section 52 fetches the
selected XML file, and merges the artist link information described
in the XML file with the existing artist link information (in the
ALM database 71). In other words, the artist link processing
control section 53 controls the database access processing section
54 to add, of the artist link information described in the XML
file, artist link information not included in the existing artist
link information (in the ALM database 71) (for instance, artist
information, artist group information, and correspondence between
artists and artist groups). The updated information in the ALM
database 71 is supplied to the artist link GUI control section
52.
In step S122, the artist link GUI control section 52 supplies the
updated information for the ALM database 71 from the artist link
processing control section 53 to the artist link display processing
section 51.
In step S123, the artist link display processing section 51
re-draws the artist link map editing screen 201 in response to an
operation for editing the ALM database 71 by the artist link GUI
control section 52. With the operation, displayed in the display
section 17 is the artist link map editing screen 201 in which an
artist added based on the fetched artist link information or an
icon corresponding to the added artist or artist group is
added.
When it is determined in step S120 that an operation for fetching a
file has not been instructed, processing proceeds to step S124. In
step S124, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines
whether termination of the operation for editing the artist link
information has been instructed. For instance, the user clicks the
artist link editing terminate button 214 provided in an upper
portion of the artist link tree screen 213 in the artist link map
editing screen 201 shown in FIG. 9.
In response to an operation for clicking the artist link editing
terminate button 214 performed by the user with the operation input
section 16, the artist link GUI control section 52 determines in
step S162 that termination of an operation for editing the artist
link has been instructed, and terminates display of the artist link
map editing screen 201. With this operation, the operation for
editing the artist link information is terminated.
When it is determined in step S124 that termination of the
operation for editing the artist link has not been instructed,
processing flows back to the step S101 shown in FIG. 10, and the
processing steps after the step S101 are repeated.
Operations for adding and deleting an artist to and from an artist
group, operations for adding and deleting an artist group, and
operations for writing out artist link information and fetching the
artist link information are described above as representatives of
the operations for editing artist link information. However, other
editorial operations such as addition and deletion of an artist to
and from the artist group list table 81, an operation for changing
an order of priority of artists in an artist group in the artist
link correspondence table 83 can be performed similarly.
As described above, the artist link information generated based on
detailed metadata can be edited according to user's operations, and
artist link information prepared by the user's friend or those
provided by a server providing artist link information can be
fetched, and therefore not only information for artist with the
contents registered in the contents information database 72, but
also information of artists with the contents not registered in a
user's my library can be displayed in the artist link map editing
screen 201.
Therefore, the user can know artists with the contents not known to
the user, and also those not known to the user. Furthermore, even
when a user does not have contents relating to a starting artist or
related artists, by operating the music site icons 261 displayed at
the side of the starting artist or the related artists in the
artist link tree screen 213, the user can directly access the
contents server 3 to search for a desired artist as described
below.
Then an operation for searching contents directly from the contents
server 3 in the artist link tree screen 213 represented by the PC1
is described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
13.
In the display section 17, the artist link map editing screen 201
shown in FIG. 9 is displayed according to control by the artist
link GUI control section 52. For instance, the user selects a music
site icon 261-3 displayed at the right side of the correlation icon
253 with the characters of artist AT5 grayed out by operating the
operation input section 16. Although not described below, the
description above is also applicable to music site icons 261 for
other artists (AT2 or AT3).
When an operation signal is inputted from the operation input
section 16 in response to selection of the music site icon 261-3,
the artist link GUI control section 52 determines that the music
site icon 261-3 has been selected, namely that data search in the
contents server 3 has been instructed. In step S201, the artist
link GUI control section 52 controls and makes the artist link
processing control section 53 to acquire an artist name
corresponding to the music site icon 261-3 (artist AT5 in the
current case) from the ALM database 71 and supply the artist name
to the artist search control section 55.
In step S202, the artist search control section 55 generates data
for a demand of search suing the acquired artist. For instance,
when the artist name is "XXXXXX", the artist search control section
55 generates the search URL shown in FIG. 14 as data for a demand
of data search using the artist name of "XXXXXX" to the contents
server 3.
FIG. 14 shows the search URL of
"http://music_site.jp/servlet/ArtistFinder?TEMPLATE-SS_ArtLinkSrch
Rslt.htm&INTERVAL=30&Name_WORD=XXXXXX" which is the search
URL when the artist name is "XXXXXX". In the URL above,
"music_site.jP" represents, for instance, a URL of the contents
server 3. This search URL is data for demanding search for the
artist name of "XXXXXX" to the contents server 3.
The artist search control section 55 supplies the generated search
demand data (namely, the search URL) to the network communication
control section 58. In step S203, the network communication control
section 58 controls and makes the network communication section 59
send the search demand data to the contents server 3. The network
communication section 59 sends the search demand data via the
communication section 20 and the network 2 to the contents server
3.
The communication section 20 in the contents server 3 receives the
search demand data from the PC1 via the network 2, and supplies the
data to the CPU 11. The CPU 11 searches names of various artists
with the contents stored in the contents database 4 using the
artist name described in the search demand data to the contents
server 3 as a keyword for the data search, and sends a result of
data search using the artist name via the network 2 to the PC1 by
controlling the communication section 20.
The network communication section 59 in the PC1 receives a result
of data search via the a communication section 20 and the network
20 from the contents server 3, and supplies the received result of
data search to the artist search control section 55.
FIG. 15 shows a result of data search with the artist name of
"Sakamoto".
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="Shift-jis"?> in the first line
indicates that the search result is described with XML version 1.0
and encoded by Shift-jis. <search_result> in the second line
and </search result> in the 36-th line indicates that the
search result extends from the third line up to the 35-th line.
<org_name_word> Sakamoto </org_name_word> in the third
line indicates that the search key is "Sakamoto".
<all_count>5</all_count> in the fourth line indicates
that five artists stored in the contents database 4 are hit.
<begin_index>1</begin_index> in the fifth line and
<end index>5</end index> in the sixth line indicate
that the first one is a first artist and the last one is a fifth
artist. <artist count>5</artist count> in the seventh
line indicates that the artist is five.
<page_count>1</page_count> in the eighth line indicates
that description of the search result extends only on one page.
<item> in the ninth line and </item> in the 35-th line
indicate that a section from the 10-th line to the 34-th line is a
search result for each hit item (artist). <artist> in the
tenth line and </artist> in the 14-th line indicate that a
search result for one of the five artists is described from the
11-th line to the 13-th line.
<url>http://music_site.jp/artist/80307744/70000417/<url>
in 11-th line represents an address of a page for the artist in the
12-th line in the contents server 3. <art name> Sakamoto
Hanako</art_name> in the 12-th line indicates that a name of
the artist hit as a result of data search using "Sakamoto" is
"Sakamoto Hanako". <entry>12<entry> in the 13-th line
indicates that the number of contents for "Sakamoto Hanako" is
12.
<artist> in the 15-th line and </artist> in the 19-th
line indicate that a search result for one of the five artists is
described in a section from the 16-th line to the 18-th line.
<url>http://music_site.jp/artist/80311316/VIA008957/</url>
in the 16-th line represents an address (URL) of a page for the
artist in the 17-th line in the contents server 3. <art_name>
Sakamoto Taro,/art_name> indicates that a name of the artist hit
as a result of data search using "Sakamoto" is "Sakamoto Taro".
<entry>8</entry> in the 18-th line indicates that the
number of contents corresponding to "Sakamoto Taro" is 8 in the
contents server 3.
<artist> in the 20-th line and </artist> in the 24-th
line indicate that a search result for one of the five artists is
described in a section from the 21-th line to the 23-th line.
<url>http://music_site.jp/artist/80312087/WMG4365/</url>
represents an address (URL) of a page for the artist in the 22-th
line in the contents server 3. <art_name> Mr. Sakamoto
</art_name> in the 22-th line indicates that a name of the
artist hit as a result of search using "Sakamoto" is "Mr.
Sakamoto". <entry>27</entry> in the 23-th line
indicates that the number of contents corresponding to "Mr.
Sakamoto" is 27 in the contents server 3.
<artist> in the 25-th line and </artist> in the 29-th
line indicate that a search result for one of the five artists is
described in a section for the 26-th line to the 28-th line.
<url>http://music_site.jp/artist/80311556/UMLG00559/</url>
represents an address (URL) of a page for the artist in the 27-th
line in the contents server 3. <art_name> Sakamoto Hanako
</art_name> in the 27-th line indicates that a name of the
artist high as a result of search using "Sakamoto" is "Sakamoto
Sakako". <entry>241</entry> in the 28-th line indicates
that the number of contents corresponding to "Sakamoto Sakako" is
241.
<artist> in the 30-th line and </artist> in the 34-th
line indicate that a search result for one of the five artists is
described in a section from 31-th to the 33-th line.
<url>http://music_site.jp/artist/80312032/EMI00271/</url>
represents an address (URL) of a page for the artist in the 32-th
line in the contents server 3. <art_name> Suzuki Gen and
Skamoto Hanako </art_name> indicates that names of the
artists hit as a result of search using "Sakamoto" is "Suzuki Gen
and Sakamoto Sakako". <entry>12</entry> in the 33-th
line indicates that the number of contents corresponding to "Suzuki
Gen and Sakamoto Sakako" is 12.
The XML data described above is sent as a search result from the
contents server 3.
Again referring to FIG. 13, in step S204, the artist search control
section 55 generate a displaying URL (hereinafter, refers to as a
display address URL as a display demand data specifying the address
in accordance with the search result. Namely, the artist search
control section 55 determines the number of hit items based on a
figure described in the <all_count>5</all_count) in the
fourth line of the search result shown in FIG. 15, and decides the
display address URL in response to a case where the number of hit
items is one, a case where the number of hit items is two or more,
or a case where the number of hit items is zero as shown in FIG.
16.
When the number of hit items is one, namely, for instance, when
only "Sakamoto Hanako" is hit as a result of search result shown in
FIG. 15,
<url>http://music_site.jp/artist/80307744/70000417/</url>
which is a URL in the 11-th line of the tag <artist> in the
10-th line shown in FIG. 15 (namely a URL of a page for the artist
name "Sakamoto Hanako") is used as a URL address for display.
When the number of hit items are two or more, a URL searched using
an artist name as a search key (when the artist name is "XXXXXX",
"http://music_site.jp/servlet/ArtistFiner?TEMPLATE-ss_ArtLinkSrch
Rslt.html&INTERVAL=30&Name_WORD=XXXXXX) is used as the
display address URL. In the case shown in FIG. 15, the number of
hit items is five, and therefore the description is applicable to
this case.
When the number of hit items is zero (namely, when nothing is hit),
like in the case where the number of hit items is two or more, the
URL searched using an artist name as a search key (when the artist
name is "XXXXXX",
"http://music_site.jp/servlet/ArtistFiner?TEMPLATE-ss_ArtLinkSr-
ch_Rslt.html&INTERVAL=30&Name_WORD=XXXXXX) is used as the
display address URL.
Again by referring to FIG. 13, as the artist search control section
55 supplies the decided the display address URL to the network
communication control section 58, in step S205, the network
communication control section 58 controls the communication control
section 58 so that the display address URL is sent to the contents
server 3. The network communication section 59 sends the display
address URL via the communication section 20 and the network 2 to
the contents server 3.
The communication section 20 in the contents server 3 receives the
display address URL via the network 2 from the PC1, and supplies
the display address URL to the CPU 11. The CPU 11 sends, in step
S222, data for configuring a screen corresponding to the display
address URL (such as image data or html data) via the network 2 to
the PC1 by controlling the communication section 20.
The network communication section 59 in the PC1 receives the data
from the contents server 3 via the communication section 20 and the
network 2, and supplied the received data to the basic GUI control
section 57. In step S206, the basic GUI control section 57 controls
the basic display processing section 56 so that a search result
screen 301 corresponding to the data from the contents server 3 is
displayed in the display section 17 together with the basic
function display screen 202.
Because of the operation, for instance, when the number of hit
items is one, the search result screen 301 is displayed in the
display section 17. When the number of hit items is two or more,
the search result screen 301 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed in the
display section 17. When the number of hit items is zero, the
search result screen 301 shown in FIG. 19 is displayed in the
display section 17.
FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a display screen displayed in the
display section 17. It is to be noted that the same symbols are
assigned to sections corresponding to those in the display screen
shown in FIG. 9.
In the area capable of being switched to another screen in the
display screen shown in FIG. 17, the search result screen 301
provided from the contents server 3 when the number of hit items is
one (for instance, when only the artist name of "Sakamoto Hanako"
is hit in FIG. 15) is displayed.
A title showing that the current screen is a screen from the
contents server 3 is shown at an uppermost portion of the search
result screen 301. Provided under the title at a diagonally left
portion are a return button 321 used to returning to a preceding
page, an advance button 322 for advancing to a next page, a stop
button used for stopping display, an update button 324 for updating
display, and a home position button used for returning to display
to a prespecified home position.
Furthermore provided under the buttons described above is a tool
bar 311 showing usage tools of music site. Shown on the tool bar
311 is "Cart tool" used for temporally keeping contents to be
purchased or the line on board, "Login tool" used for logging in a
music site, "Simple clearance registration tool" used for
registration for simple clearance for purchased contents, and "Help
tool". The user can select any of the tools to move to a page for
use of the page.
Provided under the tool bar 311 is a category bar 312 configured
with tags displaying contents by each category. Displayed on the
category bar 312 are tags, namely "Home" for returning to the
starting page, "Search according to Japanese alphabet" used for
displaying contents according to a selected Japanese alphabet,
"Japanese music" used for displaying only contents of Japanese
music, "Western music" used for displaying only western music,
"Animation for displaying only contents relating to songs for
animation program, and "Topics" used for displaying only contents
picked up in a specific program. By selecting any of the tags, a
user can have contents belong to a desired category displayed on
the screen.
A search bar 313 is provided under the category bar 312. Shown on
the search bar 313 are a "artist name search buttom" used for
searching by using a character input space, or a word input in the
character input space as an artist name, an "album name search
button" used for searching an album by using a word input into the
character input space as an album name, a "song title search
button" used for searching by using a word input into the character
input space as a song title, and a "keyword search button" used for
searching a word input into the character input space as a keyword.
A user can search for data belonging to a desired category by
inputting a work in the character input space and selecting a
desired search button.
Provided under the search bar 313 are a menu display section 314 in
which such information as search by category, a tutorial, a method
of using net cash or a music coupon, ranking of music pieces in the
contents server 3 are displayed, and a search result displaying
section 315 in which a search result for the artist name instructed
from the artist link map editing screen 201. In the right side from
the search result screen 301, a scroll bar 316 for displaying the
search result screen 301 in the scrollable state is displayed.
FIG. 17 shows a case in which the search result display section 315
provided when the number of items is one is displayed, and the page
for the artist name of "Sakamoto Hanako" shown in
<url>http://music_site.jp//artist/80307744/70000417/</url>
is displayed in the search result display section 315.
In the search result display section 315, artist information for
"Sakamoto Hanako" including images of representative albums, genre
information, other recommended information, and detailed
information, a list of albums and single pieces, and a current
ranking for contents corresponding to "Sakamoto Hanako" are shown
in the descending order. The underlined characters indicate that
there is provided a link for moving a page in which detailed
information corresponding to a selected character is displayed in
detail.
AS described above, since a page corresponding to music site icons
261 selected by a user is displayed, the user can check contents
for a desired artist or purchase the contents easily.
FIG. 18 illustrates another example of a display screen displayed
in the display section 17. In the area capable of being switched to
another display screen in the display screen shown in FIG. 18, the
search result screen 301 for the case shown in FIG. 15 when the
number of hit items is five.
In the example shown in FIG. 18, a result of search for artists
searched with the artist name of "Sakamoto" (one to five items
among the five items) is displayed in the search result display
section 315. More specifically, displayed in the search result
display section 315 are artists and contents for the artists,
namely "Sakamoto Hanako 12 titles", "Sakamoto Taro 8 titles", "Mr.
Sakamoto 27 titles", "Sakamoto Sakako 241 titles", and "Suzuki Gen
and Sakamoto Sakako 12 titles".
Each artist name is underlined, and a network link is provided so
that a user can get a page for each artist as shown, for instance,
in FIG. 17 by selecting the artist name.
With the configuration, when a user selects a name of a desired
artist from among the plurality of searched artists, as described
above with reference to FIG. 17, a page for the desired artist is
displayed, a user can easily check contents of a desired artist or
purchase the contents.
FIG. 19 shows another example of the display screen displayed in
the display section 17. In the area capable of being switched to
another display screen in the display screen shown in FIG. 19, the
search result screen 301 for a case where the number of hit items
is zero, namely where no item is hit is displayed.
In the example shown in FIG. 19, a "AAA not found" is displayed as
a result of search for artist names according to the artist name of
AAA".
Therefore, the user can easily know that a desired artist is not
registered in the contents server 3. In this case, the user can
operate, for instance, the return button to restore the artist link
map editing screen 201 and reproduce contents for another desired
artist.
As described above, in the artist link map editing screen 201,
music site icons corresponding to each artists are provided near
icons for the starting artist or for the related artists. Because
of the configuration, the user can demand search for a
corresponding artist name to the contents server 3 only by
selecting (clicking on) a desired music site icon.
As described above, a user can easily know an artist as a starting
point for data search and other correlated artists only by
selecting a music site icon. The user can also purchase of contents
for the starting artist or other correlated artists.
The starting artist or the correlated artists, icons of which are
displayed in the artist link map editing screen 201 may be artists
with the contents not stored in the contents file storing section
73, because the artist link information can also be acquired, for
instance, from a user's friend. In other words, a user can search
for information concerning an artist whom the user know first by
checking the artist link information shown in the artist link map
editing screen 201 from the contents server 3 any time, and
furthermore the user can purchase the contents according to the
necessity.
Because of the functional configuration as described above,
purchase of contents not owned by users can be promoted, which
contributes to sales promotion of contents.
The description above assumes a case in which an icon for a music
site is provided at the side of ions for a starting artist or for
correlated artists, but also a configuration is allowable in which
a music site ion is provided at the side of folder icons for the
artist groups. In this case, data search using an artist group name
can be demanded to the contents server 3.
The description above assumes a case in which artist link
information for artists relating to contents is displayed on the
screen, but the displayed item is not limited to the artist link
information for artists correlated to contents, and a reason for
correlation may be displayed visually with a tree format. This
scheme can also be applied to contents. For instance, when a
starting contents, a category group with the starting contents
included therein, and other correlated contents included in the
category group or the like are displayed, a music site ion is
displayed in correspondence to each contents. In this
configuration, data search can be performed according to the
corresponding contents name in the contents server 3, only by
selecting the music site icons 261 and therefore a user can acquire
a desired contents from the contents server 3.
The configuration described above displays, between a starting
artist and artists correlated to the starting artist, an artist
group indicating the correlation in the artist list map preview
screen 211 in which artist link information for the starting artist
described above is displayed with a tree format, but the present
invention is not limited to the configuration, and the artist group
is not always demanded to be displayed between a starting artist
and artists correlated to the starting artists. For instance, the
configuration is allowable in which correlated artists are
displayed at the side of a starting artist in the arrayed state,
and furthermore an artist group is displayed in the right side from
the correlated artists.
The description is made above by referring to a case where moving
pictures or music contents are provided, but the present invention
is not limited to display of moving pictures or music contents, and
is also applicable to the contents such as applications.
Furthermore, although the description above assumes a case where
the information processing device is a personal computer such as
the PC1 shown in FIG. 2, but the present invention is not limited
to the use of the PC1, and is applicable to a PD7 which s a
portable recording/reproducing device, a mobile phone, other types
of PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) equipment, a reproducing
device such as an AV (Audio Visual) equipment, electronic home
appliances such as CE (Consumer Electric) equipment.
The description above assumes a case in which a search demand using
an artist name is sent to the contents server 3 providing music
contents, but the search demand is not limited for demanding to be
sent to the contents server 3, and may be sent to other servers
allowing data search using an artist name as a search key.
The series of operations described above may be executed by
hardware, but also be executed by software.
When the serried of operations are executed by software, various
functions can be executed with a computer in which a program
constituting the software is incorporated in a dedicated hardware
or by installing various types of programs in a computer. The
programs are installed, for instance, in a general-purpose personal
computer from a network or a recording medium.
The recording medium includes not only package media separated from
a main body of a computer and distributed to users for providing
programs, but also a ROM 12 or a hard disk incorporated in the
storage section 16, each of which is provided to a user after the
recording medium is previously incorporated in the device, and in
which demanded programs are stored. The recording medium includes
such as a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical
disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital
Versatile Disc), a magneto optical disk (MD (Mini-Disc)
(trademark)), or a removable medium 22 made of a semiconductor
memory, in each of which a program is recorded.
The steps described in the specification and illustrated in the
flow charts are not limited for demanding to be executed according
to the described or illustrated time-series, and furthermore may be
executed concurrently or discretely.
The term of system as used herein indicates a system including a
plurality of devices as a whole.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various
modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may
occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as
they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents
thereof.
* * * * *
References